No matter what, the bill must be passed. This is the cabinet's stand today amid objections from women senators and women's groups that the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) (Amendment) Bill 2005 discriminates against Muslim women.

"The cabinet gives the assurance that we will look into all the grievances aired by the senators but no matter what, we must pass the bill, that's our system," Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz told reporters at the Parliament House.

Among the controversial amendments, are those viewed as making divorce and polygamy easier for men.

Also disputed are amendments that give polygamous husbands the right to claim a share of their wives' property as well as being able to prohibit their spouses from disposing their property.

Nazri said senators are free to debate on the matter but must vote for the bill, which is pending the approval of the Upper House. It was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Sept 26.

"If there is an oversight, we can re-look, but let's pass it first then the bill can come back as amendment on the disputed clauses," added the minister, who oversees parliamentary affairs.

"This happened in the Dewan Rakyat where the protest on the bill was not only from women (parliamentarians) but from men as well, but we used the whip so they had to follow, now it's the same (situation)," he claimed.

The bill will be tabled for the second and third reading - and is expected to be passed - at the last day of the Dewan Negara sitting tomorrow.

Briefing for senators

Yesterday, Nazri's counterpart Dr Abdullah Mohd Zain, who is in charge of religious affairs, held a briefing for senators on the matter.

Nazri also held a 15-minute briefing for about 25 senators today on the cabinet's decision. He had received a letter from16 women senators from Barisan Nasional and PAS yesterday, stating their objections on several of the controversial amendments which they felt were unjust towards Muslim women.

Reporters earlier were informed that a group of women senators were to hold a press conference to state their disagreement, however this was cancelled following the impromptu briefing.

Commenting on the bill, BN senator Dr Norraseah Mohamad said she was saddened by the lack of a consultative process in the passing of the bill.

Despite the cabinet's decision, she said women senators will continue to speak out.

"What is important now is to hear what we will debate tomorrow. We want to engage the House in the thinking process, we want to move something forward, not criticise for the sake of criticising. We want to make lawmakers to really think through laws that they pass.

"This is an issue of the family, not about men or women," added the Umno supreme council member.

Against PM's promises

Sisters in Islam (SIS) executive director Zainah Anwar who has urged for the bill's withdrawal criticised the cabinet's decision.

Parliament should not be a rubber stamp to pass "all these bad bills" and make the senators vote against their conscience.

"Precedent has been set in the past, like the Pesticides (Amendment) Bill 2004 (which was sent back to the Dewan Rakyat). So what more this bill when there are so many provisions in the bill that grossly discriminate against women," said Zainah, who was present in Parliament.

"(The authorities) are saying that you can make the amendment (after it is passed) but we all know how difficult it is to make amendments and senators know it so well (too)," she added.

She said her group now hoped for the best case scenario, which is that the bill will be passed with amendments tomorrow, so all the areas of discrimination could be amended at this sitting.

Zainah also said the bill was against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's promises.

"During the Non-Aligned Movement's (NAM) women's summit, Pak Lah made all the promises relating to protecting women rights [...] that is wonderful rhetoric but where is the action? And certainly, these amendments in the bill violate the promises he made.

"Is this the Islam Hadhari that we believe, he (the premier) believes?" she asked.

Yesterday, the Joint Action Group on Gender Equality, which comprises six women groups including SIS, had asked the Dewan Negara to withdraw the bill.